General Information

KSD 140 has the services of a full-time Registered Nurse at every school building. First aid is administered as necessary. In the event of a serious injury, the parents are contacted immediately. If the situation warrants, paramedics will be called and the student will be taken to an area hospital; the ambulance cost will be the parent’s responsibility. Emergency information must be up-to-date. Each child has a permanent Health Record where all pertinent information is recorded. Please keep the school notified of any health problems. All information is held confidential. Please feel free to contact the school to discuss any health problems or attendance concerns.

If a teacher suspects a child is ill while in class, the child will be sent to the Health Office. A body temperature is always taken before parents are called to come to school to pick up their child. Students with fevers of 100 degrees or more are sent home. Students must be fever free for 24 hours without the use of fever reducing medication before returning to school. If your child has vomited, the child should remain home until he/she has not vomited for 24 hours. When an outbreak of an illness or condition occurs in a classroom, an informative note may be sent home. If a child is absent three consecutive days or more, a note from the doctor may be necessary to explain the condition.

For the protection of your child and others, please do not send your child to school with any of the following: fever, vomiting, diarrhea, rash, persistent cough, sore throat, swollen glands, earache, and/or runny nose.

Orland Township Immunization Clinics and Health Fair

Orland Township is home to four school districts and over 10,000 school aged children. Immunization Clinics are held monthly at the Orland Township office located at 14807 S. Ravinia Avenue, Orland Park. Vaccines are available only to Orland Township residents 18 and under who are uninsured, underinsured (insurance plan does not include vaccine coverage; policy must be shown), Medicaid-eligible XIX (19), or are Native American or Alaska Native. Orland Township's Children's Health Fair, which is offered in the month of July, gives parents the peace of mind that their child will start the first day of school with dental, physical, immunizations and vision testing properly completed by the Township doctors and nurses.

Medication

District 140 recognizes that some students may require the administration of medication during school hours. In order for your student to receive medication in school, including non-prescription drugs, the KSD 140 Authorization for Administration of Medication in School form must be completed by both the licensed prescriber and the parent. Medication, including over-the-counter medicines, must be brought to school in the original container. Parents are asked to bring medication to the school nurse. Children should not transport medicine to or from school.

Additionally, your child’s doctor may determine that it is appropriate for him/her to self-possess an inhaler and/or EpiPen during school hours and during school related activities. Please alert the school nurse, teacher, and coach if your student is prescribed an inhaler or EpiPen. If your child is prescribed an inhaler, the school nurse will make a copy of the licensed prescriber’s order printed on the front of the container for the inhaler. If your child is prescribed an EpiPen, an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) should be developed with input from the doctor and parent. Please download and complete anIllinois Food Allergy Emergency Action Plan and Treatment Authorization form. The school nurse and the appropriate staff will facilitate the EAP when your child is in school and during school-related activities.

Vision and Hearing Screenings

District 140 nurses conduct vision and hearing screenings for its students according to the following schedule. Vision screenings are conducted for all students in Kindergarten, second grade, eighth grade, all new students to the District, and annually for all students who receive special education. Hearing screenings are conducted for all students in Kindergarten, first grade, second grade, third grade, all new students to the District, and annually for all students receiving special education.

Speech and Language Screening

Periodically throughout the school year, Speech-Language Pathologists of Kirby School District 140 will be evaluating children for possible articulation, fluency (stuttering), voice, or language problems. Those students to be screened include: 1) new students to the District who have not been previously screened; and 2) pupils recommended by their classroom teacher or parent. Parents will be notified of screening results.

Flu Information

District and school administrators are working with U.S. and Illinois education and health agencies to plan for the upcoming flu season to be sure our policies and practices are appropriate should the flu impact our schools. As more information is available, it will be shared with families.

Overall, students and staff are reminded to exercise good personal hygiene habits. The Illinois Department of Public Health suggests the Three C’s:

Clean – Wash your hands frequently to prevent the spread of germsCover – Your cough or sneeze with a tissue or sleeve, not your handContain – your germs – stay home if you are sick

School Protocol for Head Lice

To review information relating to head lice, please click on the links below: